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Ooc-om-bok Festival
Oc Om Bok Festival is a religious ceremony when the moon god of Kho Me minority group is worshipped in Soc Trang Province of South Vietnam. One of the most prominent of the festivals of Vietnam, it falls in the evening of the 14th day and the 15th day of the tenth lunar month. Oc Om Bok Festival is celebrated to thank the moon god for bringing good crops, abundant fish in the river and maintain the health of all the villagers. The moon deity is offered prayers to shower her blessings upon the villagers and lead them to prosperity.As the full moon appears on the night, people deposit trays of offerings in the pagoda yard or in their homes. The most colorful event  is the flying of paper lanterns and placing banana tree ferries attached with lights in the river. This is believed to sweep away the darkness and humidity of the rainy season. The traditional Ngo boat (wooden boat carved on both bow and stern) race is the highlight of the day next to the full moon night. 

Ooc-Om-Bok Festival is a religious service that worships the moon deity of the Khmer minority group and prays for good luck, happiness, good weather and bumper crops. The festival is usually held when the dry season begins and rice are ripening on the fields.

The Moon-worshipping ceremony takes place on the evening of 14th of tenth lunar month before the moon goes to the top. The ceremony is held in the yards of the pagoda or of residents’ houses. People erect bamboo poles with a crossbar on which they decorate with flowers and leaves. Below is a table of offerings that include green rice flakes, potatoes, bananas, coconuts, grapefruits, oranges and cakes. People sit on the ground with crossed legs, clasping their hands before the altar and look up the Moon. An old master of ceremonies says his prayers, asks the moon deity to receive the offerings and bless people with the best.

After the ceremony, the elders ask the children of the house sit flatly on the ground with crossed legs before the altar. The elders then take a handful of green rice, feed each child and ask them what they wish while clapping their backs. If the children answer the question clearly and politely,so all the best will come to them that year. After that, people enjoy the offerings together, and children play games or dance and sing in the moonlight. Anyone who visits the Khmer’s houses on this occasion will be tasted com dep (a kind of young sticky rice). At the pagodas of Khmer people, locals hold paper-lantern releasing into the sky and putting on the rivers. The custom of releasing flying lights and floating lights is believed to sweep away the darkness, impure and sadness from the village. Many traditional activities of the Khmer are organised on the evening of 14th.